Real letters and old friends

Remember the time we actually wrote pen and paper letters to one another? I really miss that. I don't miss how long it takes to get a letter though. That is probably the only thing I love about e-mails. The fact that you can fire one off to someone clear around the world in a matter of seconds. It will not however replace the feeling you get when you see that handwritten letter in the mail box.
The above letter in the picture, is from my pen pal.
When I was in fifth grade, we had to do a report on one of our fifty States,and I got Iowa. After we chose our State, we then had to choose a town or city in that State, write to the chamber of commerce to forward the letter to a local school,and hope that one of the students wanted to be your pen pal. I just couldn't wait to hear from someone! Then one day I looked in my mail box,and lo and behold, there sat this letter that you see above. I was so excited I instantly wrote back and mailed it the next day. By the way, check out the 8 cent stamp, and how I scrawled "letter number 1 on the top!
My pen pal is named Carolyn. I say it in the present, since we still to this day, after 35 years, still write to each other. We have never met,but still keep in contact. We stopped sending handwritten letters, and drifted for a very short time, until we started e-mailing and trying to use technology to our advantage. All the things we have shared through out the years could fill a book when I think about it. I can't believe that I still have this letter from 1973!
Recently, I have been feeling a bit out of it, then a few days ago I got an e-mail from Carolyn. It really made my day,and I was able to write some feelings and thoughts to her. As usual, it made me feel so much better, and thought about how lucky I was to have this faraway friendship.
We talk about meeting up someday, and I hope that we do. We have also thought this would be a fun feel good story to have on Oprah. Picture it, us coming on stage and meeting for the very first time after almost 35 years writing letters,then e-mails!
Just for fun, I may send her a piece of snail mail to celebrate our 35 year pen pal friendship, because nothing beats seeing a hand written letter in the mail box.